List of Morbid Angel members

Morbid Angel is an American death metal band from Tampa, Florida. Formed in 1983, the group was originally a trio featuring bassist and vocalist Dallas Ward, guitarist and keyboardist Trey Azagthoth, and drummer and vocalist Mike Browning. The band's current lineup includes constant member Azagthoth alongside bassist and vocalist Steve Tucker (initially a member from 1997 to 2001, from 2003 to 2004, and most recently since 2015), drummer Scott Fuller (who joined in 2017) and drummer Charlie Koryn (who joined in 2023).

Morbid Angel performing live in 2008 (top) and 2011 (bottom).

History

1983–1998

Morbid Angel was formed in 1983 by Dallas Ward, Trey Azagthoth and Mike Browning, with vocals initially handled by Ward. After brief stints in 1984 and 1985 with Terri Samuels and Kenny Bamber, respectively, vocal duties were taken over by Browning and guitarist Richard Brunelle, the latter of whom joined in 1985.^[1] By early 1986, the band consisted of Browning, Azagthoth, Brunelle and bassist John Ortega, who recorded the group's first three demos Scream Forth Blasphemies, Bleed for the Devil and Total Hideous Death, as well as the 1991 release Abominations of Desolation.^[2]

Shortly after the recording of Abominations of Desolation, Ortega was replaced with Sterling Von Scarborough, and after one more show Browning was fired following a fight with Azagthoth.^[2] He was replaced by drummer Wayne Hartsell and vocalist Michael Manson, although after a short time both Scarborough and Manson departed, leaving producer David Vincent to take over as bassist and vocalist.^[1] After another demo, Thy Kingdom Come, former Terrorizer drummer Pete Sandoval replaced Hartsell in July 1988.^[3] This lineup released Altars of Madness and Blessed Are the Sick.^[4]

In late 1992, Brunelle was dismissed from Morbid Angel, reportedly due to substance abuse, and the band became a trio for the first time since its formation.^[5] After the release of Covenant, however, Brunelle's vacated position was taken by former Ripping Corpse guitarist Erik Rutan.^[6] The new lineup issued Domination in 1995, before frontman David Vincent left at the end of the album's touring cycle the following summer.^[7] Rutan also left around the same time.^[8] Vincent was replaced by Steve Tucker and the band recorded 1998's Formulas Fatal to the Flesh as a trio.^[9]

1998–2015

With Erik Rutan back in the lineup, the group issued Gateways to Annihilation in 2000.^[10] The following year, Tucker was forced to step down due to "family and personal problems".^[11] He was replaced by Rutan's Hate Eternal bandmate Jared Anderson.^[12] By the summer of 2002, however, both Anderson and Rutan had left Morbid Angel to focus on Hate Eternal.^[13][14] After a short hiatus, it was announced in May 2003 that Morbid Angel had begun recording a new album as a trio, with Tucker returning.^[15] After the release of Heretic, the band added Monstrosity's Tony Norman as a touring guitarist.^[16]

By August 2004, Tucker had left for a second time due to various "personal reasons, musical reasons and very logical reasons" (including health problems), with former frontman David Vincent returning to take his place.^[17] Erik Rutan also returned temporarily in the summer of 2006, taking the place of Tony Norman for a European tour running until August.^[18] After the tour, the band remained relatively inactive until May 2008, when it was announced that Thor "Destructhor" Myhren of Zyklon had joined as an official second guitarist, in time for the recording of a planned eighth album.^[19]

In March 2010, drummer Pete Sandoval was forced to step down from Morbid Angel after undergoing back surgery.^[20] He was replaced by Tim Yeung, who was initially credited as a stand-in but ultimately remained with the band on a permanent basis.^[21] The new lineup issued Illud Divinum Insanus in 2011.^[4] In June 2015, a series of personnel changes occurred – first, it was announced that Tucker had returned, although Vincent initially claimed that he had not left;^[22] next, Yeung confirmed rumors that he too had left;^[23] and finally, Destructhor announced his departure a few days later.^[24]

Since 2015

Morbid Angel remained inactive for the rest of 2015 and all of 2016, before announcing its return in January 2017 with new guitarist Dan Vadim Von and drummer Scott Fuller.^[25] The new lineup released Kingdoms Disdained later that year.^[4] It was announced in March 2023 that drummer Charlie Koryn joined the band for its 2023 spring American tour.^[26] His first gig with the band was in Pensacola, Florida at Vinyl Music Hall.^[27]

Members

Current

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Trey Azagthoth	1983–present	guitars keyboards	all Morbid Angel releases
	Steve Tucker	1997–2001 2003–2004 2015–present	bass vocals	Formulas Fatal to the Flesh (1998) Gateways to Annihilation (2000) Heretic (2003) Kingdoms Disdained (2017)
	Dan Vadim Von	2017–present	guitars	Kingdoms Disdained (2017) – one track only
	Charlie Koryn	2023–present	drums	None – live shows only

Former

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Mike Browning	1983–1986	drums vocals	Scream Forth Blasphemies (1986) Bleed for the Devil (1986) Total Hideous Death (1986) Abominations of Desolation (1991)
	Dallas Ward	1983–1985	bass vocals	none
	Richard Brunelle	1985–1992 (died 2019)	guitars	all Morbid Angel releases from Scream Forth Blasphemies (1986) to Abominations of Desolation (1991) Live Madness '89 (2006)
	John Ortega	1985–1986	bass	Scream Forth Blasphemies (1986) Bleed for the Devil (1986) Total Hideous Death (1986) Abominations of Desolation (1991)
	Kenny Bamber		vocals	none
	Sterling Von Scarborough	1986 (died 2006)	bass	none
	Wayne Hartsell	1986–1988	drums	Thy Kingdom Come (1987)
	Michael Manson	1986	vocals	none
	David Vincent	1986–1996 2004–2015	bass vocals occasional keyboards	all Morbid Angel releases from Thy Kingdom Come (1987) to Entangled in Chaos (1996), except Abominations of Desolation (1991) Live Madness '89 (2006) Illud Divinum Insanus (2011)
	Pete Sandoval	1988–2010	drums	all Morbid Angel releases from Altars of Madness (1989) to Live Madness '89, except Abominations of Desolation (1991)
	Erik Rutan	1993–1996 1998–2002 2006 (touring)	guitars keyboards	Domination (1995) Entangled in Chaos (1996) Gateways to Annihilation (2000)
	Jared Anderson	2001–2002 (died 2006)	bass vocals	none
	Tony Norman	2003–2006 (touring only)	guitars
	Thor "Destructhor" Myhren	2008–2015		Illud Divinum Insanus (2011)
	Tim Yeung	2010–2015	drums
	Scott Fuller	2017–2023		Kingdoms Disdained (2017)

Timeline

Lineups

Period	Members	Releases
1983–1984	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Mike Browning – drums Dallas Ward – bass, vocals	none
1984–1985	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Mike Browning – drums Dallas Ward – bass Terri Samuels – vocals
1985–1986	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Mike Browning – drums Richard Brunelle – guitars, vocals John Ortega – bass Kenny Bamber – vocals
Early – summer 1986	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Mike Browning – drums, vocals Richard Brunelle – guitars John Ortega – bass	Scream Forth Blasphemies (1986) Bleed for the Devil (1986) Total Hideous Death (1986) Abominations of Desolation (1991)
Summer 1986	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Mike Browning – drums, vocals Richard Brunelle – guitars Sterling Von Scarborough – bass	none
Fall 1986	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Richard Brunelle – guitars Sterling Von Scarborough – bass Wayne Hartsell – drums Michael Manson – vocals
Late 1986 – July 1988	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Richard Brunelle – guitars Wayne Hartsell – drums David Vincent – bass, vocals	Thy Kingdom Come (1987)
July 1988 – late 1992	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Richard Brunelle – guitars David Vincent – bass, vocals Pete Sandoval – drums	Altars of Madness (1989) Blessed Are the Sick (1991) Live Madness '89 (2006)
Late 1992 – late 1993	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards David Vincent – bass, vocals Pete Sandoval – drums	Covenant (1993) Laibach Remixes (1994)
Late 1993 – summer 1996	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards David Vincent – bass, vocals Pete Sandoval – drums Erik Rutan – guitars, keyboards	Domination (1995) Entangled in Chaos (1996)
Early 1997 – early 1998	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Pete Sandoval – drums Steve Tucker – bass, vocals	Formulas Fatal to the Flesh (1998)
Early 1998 – April 2001	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Pete Sandoval – drums Steve Tucker – bass, vocals Erik Rutan – guitars, keyboards (1st return)	Gateways to Annihilation (2000)
April 2001 – June 2002	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Pete Sandoval – drums Erik Rutan – guitars, keyboards Jared Anderson – bass, vocals	none
June – August 2002	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Pete Sandoval – drums Erik Rutan – guitars, keyboards
August 2002 – May 2003	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Pete Sandoval – drums
May – November 2003	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Pete Sandoval – drums Steve Tucker – bass, vocals (1st return)	Heretic (2003)
November 2003 – August 2004	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Pete Sandoval – drums Steve Tucker – bass, vocals Tony Norman – guitars (touring only)	none
August 2004 – June 2006	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Pete Sandoval – drums Tony Norman – guitars (touring only) David Vincent – bass, vocals (1st return)
June – August 2006	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Pete Sandoval – drums David Vincent – bass, vocals Erik Rutan – guitars (touring only)
August 2006 – May 2008	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Pete Sandoval – drums David Vincent – bass, vocals
May 2008 – March 2010	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Pete Sandoval – drums David Vincent – bass, vocals Destructhor – guitars
March 2010 – June 2015	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards David Vincent – bass, vocals Destructhor – guitars Tim Yeung – drums	Illud Divinum Insanus (2011)
June 2015 – January 2017	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Steve Tucker – bass, vocals (2nd return)	none
January 2017 – 2023	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Steve Tucker – bass, vocals Scott Fuller – drums Dan Vadim Von – guitars	Kingdoms Disdained (2017)
2023 – present	Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Steve Tucker – bass, vocals Charlie Koryn – drums Dan Vadim Von – guitars	none

References

1. Chantler, Chris (April 30, 2020). "The demonic birth of Morbid Angel: "We performed rituals to conjure the Gods"". Metal Hammer. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
2. Stevens, Brett (June 4, 2015). "Interview with Mike Browning 05-30-15". Death Metal Underground. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
3. "Pete Sandoval No Longer Has a Relationship With Morbid Angel: 'I Don't Even Speak To Them'". Blabbermouth.net. January 29, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
4. Prato, Greg. "Morbid Angel: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
5. Badin, Olivier Zoltar (October 22, 2014). "20 Years Of Morbid Angel's Covenant". Louder. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
6. Brown, Gavin. "Interview: Erik Rutan from Hate Eternal". Echos and Dust. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
7. Deurwaarder, Silvia (April 21, 2005). "Morbid Angel". Reflections of Darkness. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
8. Rosenberg, Axl (November 26, 2014). "Ten Facts You Probably Didn't Know About Morbid Angel". Metal Sucks. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
9. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Formulas Fatal to the Flesh - Morbid Angel: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
10. Korn, Mike. "Morbid Angel: Gateways of Annihilation". Music Street Journal. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
11. "Archive News Apr 04, 2001". Blabbermouth.net. April 4, 2001. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
12. "Archive News Nov 19, 2001". Blabbermouth.net. November 19, 2001. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
13. "Morbid Angel: New Frontman Needed". Blabbermouth.net. June 3, 2002. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
14. "Erik Rutan Leaves Morbid Angel". Blabbermouth.net. August 17, 2002. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
15. "Morbid Angel Reunite With Frontman, Begin Recording New CD". Blabbermouth.net. May 20, 2003. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
16. "Morbid Angel Recruit Monstrosity Axeman For Superjoint Tour". Blabbermouth.net. November 7, 2003. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
17. "David Vincent Rejoins Morbid Angel". Blabbermouth.net. August 12, 2004. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
18. "Morbid Angel Guitarist Erik Rutan To Rejoin Band For European Tour". June 26, 2006. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
19. "Morbid Angel Announces New Guitarist". Blabbermouth.net. May 20, 2008. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
20. "Morbid Angel Drummer Undergoes Back Surgery; Divine Heresy's Tim Yeung Steps In". Blabbermouth.net. March 18, 2010. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
21. "Former Morbid Angel Drummer Pete Sandoval Says His Christian Beliefs Will Not Affect Terrorizer". Blabbermouth.net. November 21, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
22. "Updated: Morbid Angel Reunites With Steve Tucker; David Vincent Says He Hasn't Quit Band". Blabbermouth.net. June 15, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
23. "It's Official: Drummer Tim Yeung Exits Morbid Angel". Blabbermouth.net. June 15, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
24. "Morbid Angel Parts Ways With Guitarist Destructhor". Blabbermouth.net. June 18, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
25. "Morbid Angel To Tour U.S. With Suffocation, Revocation, Withered; Second Guitarist Announced". Blabbermouth.net. January 11, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
26. "MORBID ANGEL Recruits Drummer CHARLIE KORYN For Spring 2023 U.S. Tour". Blabbermouth.net. March 13, 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
27. "MORBID ANGEL's TREY AZAGTHOTH: 'If You Don't Like My Music, F*** You. Go Listen To Some Other Band'". Blabbermouth.net. April 16, 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2023.

External links

• Morbid Angel official website